Elizabeth line: TfL Crossrail project ‘closed out’ after latest timetable update

Sixteen years on from getting the go-ahead, the Crossrail project is now closed after the latest Elizabeth line timetable update was brought in.

The new timetable, introduced on May 21, brought the number of trains on the service to 24 per hour in the line's central section. This was up from 22 previously, with journey times also improved.

The Elizabeth line, named after the late Queen Elizabeth II, connects Reading and Heathrow in the west with Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, via central London stations including Paddington, Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street.

Papers on the agenda for a Transport for London (TfL) board meeting on Wednesday (June 7) confirm: "The introduction of this timetable change marked the end of the Crossrail project."

The project closed on May 26, final endorsement of its completion is expected by July. The Elizabeth line will no longer fall under Crossrail, but will instead be fully integrated into TfL.

In his report, TfL interim commissioner Andy Lord wrote: "Last month, we celebrated the first anniversary of the Elizabeth line and the introduction of the final operating timetable. Customers now benefit from a train approximately every two and a half minutes between Paddington and Abbey Wood, and those travelling to Heathrow benefit from six trains per hour all day, along with an increased peak period and reduced journey times.

"This marks the culmination of the Crossrail project, and the closeout of the organisation is now complete, with all remaining works and activities transferring to TfL.

He added: "This is a huge moment for London and TfL: the Elizabeth line has been successfully delivered within the funding envelope forecast. This is no mean feat, and I would like to commend all the colleagues, both past and present, who have played a role in delivering the line.

"The Elizabeth line is continuing to prove popular, with more than 150 million journeys made along the route and daily records continuing to be broken. This is reflected across the network, where we continue to see ridership growth."

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